Tuesday, 14 January 2014

Knickers and Natters

Last night was a return to Heddles & Treadles, my local(?!!) Guild of Spinners Weavers & Dyers. Their venue has changed due to hall refurbishment and they now meet in a village hall almost an hour away from where I now live. It was a heck of a trek but we had a great meeting.

Some learnt Dorset buttons, I, well it was mostly a chinwag for me. It was a worthwhile discussion, I discovered how some people space dye their knickers, something I confess had not occurred to me, but I believe Kirstie Alsopp was doing it before Christmas. Something I can't find any evidence for bit I wouldn't be a bit surprised.

Dorset buttons in progress, no knicker shots I afraid, being dyed or otherwise

It's well worth leafing through old books and updating ideas, giving the old a new lease of life. Think of that when you next put on your old grey pants ladies!

I also caught up with Ambermoggie from ravelry who is in our guild and was using a Hanson mini spinner, something I hadn't seen before, but it saves her knees (having been operated on). It's a brilliant machine, with different speeds and she highly recommended it. It reduced her plying time considerably.

The bobbin is larger than a standard bobbin and so would hold a sizeable amount, which would be needed as more would be spun in a shorter time. I was impressed with it and would definitely recommend it to friends or students who wanted to spin but had difficulty with their joints.